News

Long delays after signalling problems

IT was a perfect storm of rail problems that caused chaos across Hampshire.

Trains were suspended yesterday and delayed all over the county due to signalling problems and a tree falling on the line.

The tree fell on tracks between Sway and New Milton, causing long delays for South West Trains services between Weymouth and London Waterloo and CrossCountry trains between Bournemouth and Manchester Piccadilly.

Services only returned to normal by 5pm yesterday after the line was cleared.

Meanwhile replacement taxis were drafted in to ferry passengers between Eastleigh and Romsey after South West Trains’ service was suspended due to signalling problems at Chandler’s Ford.

Separate signal problems at Southampton Central caused delays on services to Havant, Fareham, Basingstoke and Salisbury by up to an hour, but were resolved by 3pm.

A spokesman for South West Trains said yesterday: “A signalling problem at Chandler’s Ford means trains are unable to run between Eastleigh and Romsey.

“A replacement service using local taxis has been put into place.

“We would advise passengers to check with National Rail Enquiries before travelling.”

But the spokesman said they were unable to confirm what caused the signal problems at Chandler’s Ford.